Method of and apparatus for packaging belts



Jan. 30, 1923.

F. F. RANIVILLE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING BELTS.

FILED APR. 23. 1921.

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Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,759

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METHOD GF APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING BELTS LED APR. 23a 1921. 2 suaars snesr Z lnuenfbr x YYmmBFEpmuHm.

.AH6rne STATEfi FRANCIS F. RANIVILLE', OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGIWG- BELTS.

Application filed April 23, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. RamviLLn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Methods of and Apparatus for Packaging Belts and I do hereby declare the iollowingto be a full, clear, and exact do scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to amethod of inserting belting in a package adapted to contain the same, being particularly concerned with a method and an apparatus for carrying out the same for simultaneously coiling and positioning the belting within the package. The invention is particularly applicable for the handling of sewing machine belts though not limited in any respect thereto. Viith my invention, it is designed that a length of belting shall be inserted at one end into the outer container for the same being grasped at its inserted end and coiled into a compact coil with a simultaneous pulling in of the length of belting into the package, which is afterward sealed to preclude escape of the belting from the package. It is apriniary object and purpose of the invention to accomplish the above described ends in a simple and economical manner and with. speed so that the production of the belt packages in quantity may be had, the steps of the method being simple and such mechanism as is required being very simple and durable in it construction and operation.

For an understanding of the invention, iot'erence may be had to the following description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a side elevation, with partsbroken away and shown in section, illustrating the machine used for the accomplishment of the method.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the upper part of the machine the section being taken on a plane between the two upper blocks thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4c are transverse vertical sections through the upper part or" the machine, and illustrating the blocks noted in two diliterent positions, and

5 is a perspective view of the belt package, a portion of one side of the pack- Serial No. 464,950.

age being broken away to illustrate the belt coil within the same. i v

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings. In the construction of the machine used, any suitable supporting, table 1 may be used, as the upper portion of a bench or the like to which two spaced apart vertically extending brackets 2 are secured by screws or like fastenings, a rod 3 extending between the upper ends of the brackets and mounted for rotation therein and on which a short cylinder 4: is eccentrically mounted. A handle 5 extends from the cylinder at whereby the same may be turned to diiierent pos tions manually.

Four rods 7 are connected to the table 1 and extend upwardly therefrom, being spaced apart from each other. .A spring is placed around each rod and rests at its lower end on the table. A lower block 9 is placed on the rods, there being openings through the block for the passage of said rods, and springs 8 normallyserveto elevate the block a short distance above the table, the block resting on the upper ends of said springs A. second spring 10 is placed around each rod? 1 and rests at its lower end on the lower block 9. second upper block is located above the lower block, and rods 7 passing loosely therethrough, and

this upper block is normally elevated a. dis-1 tance above the lower block by the springs.

10 on the upper ends of which the upper block rests. The rods 7 are equippedwith heads 7 at their upper ends preventing dis: engagement of the upper block 11 from the rods and the eccentrically mounted member. t lies immediately above the upper side of block 11, it being apparent that with the turning of the member 4 from one position, as shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. at, the blocks will be forced to a lower position, springs 8 and 10 being compressed, the same acting'assoon as released by returning the member l to initial position to carry the vlocks back to upper positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

A plate 12 formed at one side ith an upturned lip 13 is set in the upper side of the lower block 9, the lip being located beyond the side of the block as shown. Two bars 14 are attached to the upper sideof the lower block, one atcach side of the plate 12, and angle guideshaving depending legs 15 are connected to the under side of the upper block so as to pass just within the inner sides or" said bars ii. The bars 1st ser ve to space the blocks and hold the same from approaching each other any nearer than the thickness of the bars when the same are forced into lower position, and the guide flanges l5 serve as guides for the belt container which is adapted to be placed between the two blocks, and which comprises narrow elongated sides 16 and afront 17 in which a circular opening 18 is made, together with a back 19 paralleling the front 17, the ends of: the container being open. This con tainer is made from a single sheet of relatively stiff paper or paper board folded to the shape described, and the san'ie is adapted to be inserted between the two blocks 9 and 11 with its front 1. located a inst the plate, its sides 16 lying alongside of the guides 15 and with one end abutting against the lip 13. For the convenient insertion and removal of the containers, the blocks and opposite sides of the plate are recessed at 20 for the fingers of the operator, as obvious.

The lower block 9 has a central vertical opening 21 therethrough, plate 12 and table 11 having openings vertically alining therewith, and a shaft 22 is mounted vertically therein, the upper end of which comes slightly below the upper face o the plate 12 when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8, whereby there is no interference to the insertion of a container between the blocks. The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 23 and 23 connected to suitable supporting beams 24 and 2%. A pulley 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft 22 and may be continuously driven by a belt 26 from any suitable power source. The lower side of the pulley is shaped to receive a clutch member 27 splined on the shaft and formed with a collar 27 with which one end of a lever 28 is yoked, the lever being pivotally mounted between its ends on a bracket 28 carried on the beam 24?. The other end of lever 28 has pivotal connection with the upper end of a link 29, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a foot lever 30 between the ends thereof. Lever 30 is pivotally connected at one end to a stationary bracket 31 and is normally elevated by a spring 32 attached at its ends to the lever and the beam 24: as shown in Fig. 1. It is apparent that clutch member 27 is normally disconnected from the pulley 25 but that the same may be elevated into connection therewith by stepping on the end of the foot lever, whereupon the shaft 22 will be rotated.

The upper end of the shaft 22 has a portion at one side cut away and a pin 33 is set vertically therein a short distance oil center of the shaft. When the container asagna for the belting has been placed between the two blocks 9 and 11, handle is grasped and operated to rotate the cocoa Lric l, depressing he blocks and thereby carrying the conainer downwardly a s ort distance so that .re upper end of shaft projects through f the cont t t the opening 18 in the lower side tamer. The hook on the end a length i belting is inserted into the o 1 end of containe and said hook is engaged the pin as the shaft 22 is rotated, toot lever 30 havin een depressed to start the shalt in ro ition. This immediately cause tne belt as to be drawn into the container and wound around the upper end of the shaft 22 into a. coil, the entire coil being contained within and covered by the front and back 17 and 19 ct fly: shmp (01TH .0 w 0 ovirl/H' Qgvl it, i ulikm i u bdlilvi d.) lo ancient wed ing strips 36 ot paper are then attached at the open ends ot the package, the i lev r released, and the eccentric turned initial position, after which the completed package is removed from the machine and the process repeated for a succeeding p:

The above described machine and method of packaging belts is very useful, may be worked with great siecd, and by it belts may be coiled and sealed in packages in large quantity at low labor cost. The construction has proved especially useful in practice. It is obvious that variations in constructive detail may be resorted to in the construction of the machine, and the invention is not to be considered limited strictly thereto but comprises all forms of structure coming within the scope of the claims.

1 claim:

1. In combination, a support, rods extend ing upwardly therefrom, upper and lower blocks loosely mounted on the rods, springs between the blocks and between the lower block and the support for normally elevating said blocks, means for manually moving both blocks downwardly, spacing means between the blocks for holding the same a distance apart when both are moved downwardly, a vertical shattpassing upwardly through the lower block and having a vertical pin thereon at its upper end, driving means, and means for connecting the shaft with the driving means at will, substantially as described.

2. Tn combination, a horizontal table, rods extending vertically therefrom, a spring around each rod and resting on the table, a lower block resting on said springs and through which the rods: pass, said block having a central vertical opening therethrough, a second spring around each rod resting on the upper side of the lower block, a second upper block bearing on the upper ends of the second springs, a bracket at each end of the blocks. a rod disposed between the upper ends oi said brackets, an eccentric on the rod over the upper block, a handle extending from the eccentric, spacer bars disposed between the blocks and attached to one of said blocks, a shaft mounted vertically and extending through the table and into the vertical opening in the lower block, the upper end thereof having one side partly removed and a pin positioned vertically in the recess, and said upper end of the shaft lying slightly below the upper side of the block in the normal position thereof, and means for driving the shaft, substantially as described.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 6, combined with a plate set into the upper side of the lower block and having a central opening therethrough alining with the central opening in the block, said plate at one outer edge having an upturned lip, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a construction of the class described, means for receiving and holding a container having upper and lower sides, and an open end, the lower side having an opening therethrough, a shaft mounted for rotation, means for driving the same, means for moving the container holding means to project the end of the shaft through .said opening, and means on the end of the shaft for connecting with a hook on'the end of a length of belting, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a construction of the class described, means for receiving and holding a container for belting having one side provided withan opening therethrough, said container having an open end, a shaft mounted for rotation, means for driving the shaft, means for projecting the end of the shaft through said opening in the side of the container and means on thee-nd of the shaft with which a hook secured at one end of a length of belting may connect to thereby draw the belting into the container and Wind the same into a coil around the shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANCIS F. RANIVILLE. 

